How To Revive Your Job Search When You're Sick Of Looking

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Everyday it seems like I meet another frustrated
job seeker. They come from everywhere, every industry,
and every career level.

Job search frustration can stop the most optimistic of people
dead in their tracks. Nothing is more irritating than the feeling
of spinning your wheels without making any progress.

I bet you have heard the cliche, “work smarter, not
harder.” I never liked hearing it. I still don’t like
hearing it. I don’t even like writing it. However, that is
the best advice I can offer you at this moment.

Working smarter isn’t nearly as difficult as some make
it out to be. The key is to step back and look at everything you
are doing, and then consider adopting these six habits
of smart job seekers: Keep it balanced

The smart job seeker doesn’t stick to just one job search method.
Instead, they divide their time between research, networking, and
applying. They also do not focus entirely on online job hunting
activities. They typically follow the 80/20
rule, spending 80% of their time involved in offline
job search and networking activities and
only 20% online.

You never know where an employer is going to reach out. Balancing
your job search across the board allows you to take advantage of
many different opportunities.

Thinking for themselves

A common pitfall many job seekers run into is the “well,
so-and-so is doing this, so I should too” pattern. When this
happens, you lose part of your identity as a job seeker. What
works for one person might not work for another. Your situation
will dictate the best approach for you and the type of job you
want. Moreover, most employers don’t want to deal with a
dozen job seekers doing the exact same thing. They are looking
for the one or two people who stand out from the
crowd.

The smart job seeker always thinks for himself (or herself!).
They offer their thoughts and insights in networking situations
and job interviews. They might not fit in every situation, but a
job seeker who thinks for his or herself will more often
than not put themselves in situations where they are a good
fit, and where great opportunities can find them.

Knowing their friends

Everyone knows that networking is valuable in the job search.
Unfortunately, with social media, job seekers become avid
collectors of “friends.” On Facebook, you can easily collect 500 “friends”
without knowing a single person well enough to
ask for advice.

The smart job seeker knows who their friends are. Additionally,
they also know who their colleagues, acquaintances, competitors,
mentors, and networking contacts are. When you know what role a
person plays in your life, you will be able to use them the right
way.

Making new connections

The smart job seeker is always making new connection, online and
off. Introductions are the bread and butter of a networking-savvy
job seeker. Making new connections and maintaining relationships
is paramount for any job seeker. You never know who your next
boss knows!

Being creative

For many job seekers, the only way to get hired seems like the
same sequence of steps that everyone takes. Unfortunately,
many people are finding that these steps aren’t working as
well as they hoped.

The smart job seeker uses creativity in their job search. If one
method doesn’t work, try tweaking it before completely ditching
the idea, but don’t just keep doing the same thing that doesn’t
work. If your dream boss loves bocce ball, why not stray from
LinkedIn and join him on the court?

Always growing

The job market is anything but stagnant. So, don’t let your
job search stagnate. Our communication tools have changed
dramatically making everything we do that much more efficient and
effective. While traditional tactics and tools (like resumes,
manners, and thank you notes) have staying power, and can help
you seal the deal on your dream job, nobody should follow
the job search playbook from 20, 10, or even 1 year ago.

The smart job seeker is always growing. They adopt new strategies
and tools early on and always strive to keep their skills and
capabilities up-to-date with their industry.

What do you think?What would you say is the
seventh habit of smart job seekers?Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Tony Morrison is the Vice President
of Business Development at Cachinko, a unique professional community
where social networking and job opportunities come
together. His roles include sales, marketing, and customer
relationships. He focuses much of his time on helping job
seekers to find their ideal job and employers to find, attract,
and engage their next rock star candidates. Find him
on Twitter and Talent Connection, and, connect with Cachinko
on Facebook or Twitter.